Tag Archives: grand ole opry

Tompall Glaser sits in the dressing room before performing with the Glaser Brothers during Fan Fair at Municipal Auditorium, June 12, 1981. (photo: Ricky Rogers/The Tennessean)

Sept. 3, 1933 - August 13, 2013

Thomas Paul “Tompall” Glaser — a staunchly independent singer, songwriter, studio owner, publisher and recording artist and a central figure in country music’s much-vaunted “Outlaw Movement” of the 1970s — died Tuesday at his Nashville home after a long illness. Mr. Glaser, who was featured on “Wanted! The Outlaws,” country music’s first million-selling album, was 79.

Mr. Glaser was an unabashed rebel in a company town. He and brothers Chuck and Jim owned the 19th Avenue South studio formally known as Glaser Brothers Sound Studios but commonly called “Hillbilly Central,” where groundbreaking works including John Hartford’s “Aereo-Plain” and Waylon Jennings’ “Dreaming My Dreams” were recorded. Populated by a gang of misfits including Mr. Glaser, Waylon Jennings, Billy Ray Reynolds, Roger “Captain Midnight” Schutt and others, Hillbilly Central was a kingdom unto its own.

“That building was a fortress,” said Glaser Sound secretary and publicist Hazel Smith, in Michael Bane’s book “Outlaws: Revolution In Country Music.” “It was a place where they could go and hide. It was home to them, and there were no Picasso’s on the wall.”

The Hillbilly Central scene reached its pop peak in 1976, when RCA Records released “Wanted! The Outlaws,” featuring Mr. Glaser, Jennings, Willie Nelson and Jessi Colter. That album, a cobbled-together work featuring previously released material from each of the four artists, topped country charts and solidified the singers’ reputation as “outlaws,” a term meant to convey idiosyncratic artistry rather than actual lawlessness. But by 1976, Mr. Glaser and the other “outlaws” were well known in Music City for their restless creativity and for their night-owl habits.

“I discovered two principles of Glaser nightlife,” wrote journalist Dave Hickey in 1973. “First, no pinball machine is passed by unplayed, and, secondly, any establishment which possesses a pinball machine hasn’t much luck in trying to close while Tompall is playing the machine.”

Mr. Glaser was born in Spalding, Neb., and was raised on a Nebraska farm. He and his brothers sang on local radio and in area venues and, in 1957, on Arthur Godfrey’s network television show.

In 1959, the brothers came to Nashville at the request of singing star Marty Robbins, who hired them to sing harmony vocals at his concert and signed them to his own Robbins Records. The Glasers also toured with Johnny Cash and sang harmonies on recordings such as Cash’s “Ring Of Fire,” Roy Orbison’s “Leah” and Robbins’ “El Paso.”

The brothers Glaser also established a publishing business beginning in 1962, handling songs including Gary Puckett & the Union Gap’s “Woman, Woman” (co-written by Jim Glaser) and Hartford’s mega-successful “Gentle On My Mind.”

Money earned from publishing such hits helped to build Glaser Sound Studios, which opened in 1970, the same year the Glaser Brothers were voted the Country Music Association’s top vocal group. In 1971, the brothers scored a No. 7 country hit with “Rings,” but the group disbanded in 1973 and Mr. Glaser embarked on a solo career. By then, Mr. Glaser and Jennings had become close friends and business partners, bound by shared affinities for music and pinball and by a shared disdain for convention.

“Before Waylon and Tompall got together, they didn’t know there was anybody else like them,” Smith told author Michael Streissguth for his book, “Outlaw: Waylon, Willie, Kris And The Renegades Of Nashville. “I think both of them secretly thought they might be crazy. They’d both been going their own way alone for so long, it never even entered their minds that somebody else might feel the same way about country music and Nashville.”

Mr. Glaser and Jennings co-produced Jennings’ landmark “Honky Tonk Heroes” album, released in the summer of 1973 and featuring nine songs penned by Billy Joe Shaver. They shared a vision of musicians operating independently, outside of the traditional Music Row systems. And they starred together on “Wanted! The Outlaws.” But the men fell out over a publishing dispute, and Mr. Glaser rejoined his brothers in 1980, signing with Elektra Records and notching a No. 2 hit with Kris Kristofferson’s “Lovin’ Her Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again).”

The regrouping was brief, and the brothers called it quits in 1982. Mr. Glaser recorded another solo album in 1986, then sold Hillbilly Central and retreated from the public eye.

A private family memorial is being planned. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Diabetes Association.

OWENSBORO, Ky. Plans to open a bluegrass music center in Western Kentucky are moving ahead.

The Messenger-Inquirer reports Owensboro city officials are seeking an architect to design the outside of the facility. The city and the International Bluegrass Music Museum are working together to turn an old state office building into a center that includes a 30,000-square-foot museum, a 1,000-seat indoor theater, outside festival seating and a 4,500-square-foot restaurant with a bluegrass theme.

Organizers have said they want to offer fans of bluegrass music something akin to what the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville offers to country music fans.Continue reading →

LA JOLLA, Calif. (AP) — Grammy-winning musician JJ Cale, whose best known songs became hits for Eric Clapton with "After Midnight" and Lynyrd Skynyrd with "Call Me the Breeze," has died. He was 74.

The performer and producer's manager Mike Kappus has told The Associated Press that the architect of the Tulsa Sound died Friday night of a heart attack at Scripps Hospital in La Jolla, Calif.

Born John Weldon Cale in Oklahoma City, he cut a wide path through 1970s rock 'n' roll, influencing some of the most famous musicians at the time with songs that were laid back and mellow, yet imbued with a driving groove.

Neil Young, Mark Knopfler and Bryan Ferry are among his many fans in the music world.

A former member of the Grand Ole Opry touring company, Cale never rose to the level of success of his admirers, but his fingerprints could be heard all over the genre in the 1970s, and his music remains influential.

His album with Eric Clapton "The Road to Escondido" won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Album in 2007.

In 2006, Cale told the AP in an interview "I'd probably be selling shoes today if it wasn't for Eric."

Clapton also recorded Cale's "Cocaine," ''Travelin' Light" and "I'll Make Love To You Anytime."

Artists including Santana, The Allman Brothers and Johnny Cash have all covered Cale's songs.

On his website, Cale was asked if it bothers him that "contemporaries and critics list him amongst legends, and fans might love his songs yet not even know his name?"

"No, it doesn't bother me," he said with a laugh. "What's really nice is when you get a check in the mail."

Alaina, who finished second on the show behind Scotty McCreery in 2011, graduated high school in her native Georgia in May, and while all of her high school friends are moving away from home to go to college, Alaina says she’s moving to Nashville to continue to pursue her dream of country music stardom.

“You might see me in Walmart,” she told the audience at a small listener appreciation show at WSIX last week. “I love Walmart, but I’m always in my pajamas.”

She asked the crowd where the Walmarts were located in the Nashville area, and after a fan shouted out Hendersonville, she asked if it has a McDonald's. She was hoping the answer was no, because she didn’t want to eat all of the chain’s food. She said a Subway would be OK, though.

Alaina treated fans to several songs, including her past hit “Georgia Peaches” and “Tupelo” from her debut album “Wildflower” and her current single “Barefoot and Buckwild,” which is the first song from an upcoming album. “Barefoot and Buckwild” is the first single the teenager had a hand in writing. Her co-writers are Jon Nite and Chris DeStefano.

Fans that missed that show can catch Alaina on stage at the "Grand Ole Opry" on July 31. Tickets are $35-$57 for adults, $25-$57 for ages 4-11, free for ages 3 and younger, available at www.opry.com. Show time is 7 p.m.

When Cassadee Pope joined coach Blake Shelton’s team on TV reality competition “The Voice” in the fall of 2012, she did it as a pop singer. But country star Shelton wasted little time before he started showcasing her voice on his genre’s songs.

Pope went on to win “The Voice” in December and has since signed a country record deal with Republic Nashville, she has toured with Rascal Flatts and she is set to release her debut album this fall.

But on Tuesday she’ll enjoy another career milestone: her Opry debut. And just because she started out as a pop singer, don’t think the honor is lost on Pope.

“People don’t realize that country music is my background and that’s what I sang as a kid,” she said in an interview with The Tennessean last week. “I went through my rock phase, but now I’m back in a place where I feel the roots coming back from country music. I’m just infusing all of them into one. The Opry has always been something I wanted to do and as a kid I covered all the artists that sang on the Opry stage.”

Darius Rucker performs at the Opry at the Ryman on Nov. 17. (Photo: Sanford Myers/The Tennessean)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Darius Rucker's surprise invitation to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry is a moment he says he will always cherish — and now fans will be able to share the experience with him over and over again.

The singer, who rose to fame as the frontman for South Carolina rockers Hootie & The Blowfish, began pursuing his lifelong passion for country music a few years ago. Now he is the video host for one of two new tours that have been added to the Opry's backstage tour line-up.

In this image made available by the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, TN., shows Dressing Room #18 or Women of Country Room on Oct. 28, 2010. This dressing room is themed for female Opry members. The Grand Ole Pry is offering the VIP Behind the Opry Curtain Tour and Opry House Post Show Tour showing a variety of dressing rooms and inner workings of the Opry moments before the big curtain goes up. (AP Photo/Grand Ole Opry, Chris Hollo)

The tours are the "VIP Behind The Opry Curtain Tour" and the "Opry House Post-Show Tour," which Rucker hosts.

"They're going to get to relive that night, and that moment" he was asked to join the Opry, said Rucker, who was inducted shortly after the invitation last October. "But they're also going to see some other great things behind the scenes."

For the behind-the-curtain tour, a limited number of guests go backstage and get an intimate look at the inner workings of the Opry moments before the big curtain goes up.

"The Grand Ole Opry is a great show on stage, but it's a whole other world backstage," said Brenda Colladay, who has been the Opry museum's curator for 16 years.

"It puts people right in the thick of ... all of those different artists, and musicians and square dancers, and everybody backstage. It's an exciting time."

Following Opry performances on certain nights, Rucker will share with guests some of his favorite backstage moments and memories as they visit areas occupied just minutes before by artists on that night's show.

"Backstage at the Opry is awesome," Rucker said. "You never know who's going to show up, who's going to be standing around; and all the great pictures and all the great memories."

Among the Rucker-hosted videos are "Opry home movies", which share video footage of Opry debuts, including Vince Gill, Alan Jackson and Kenny Chesney, as well as vintage performances by George Jones and Dolly Parton. There's also an array of Opry fashions and hairstyles through the years.

And then there's that night the 47-year-old Rucker was asked to be an Opry member, the third black performer to hold Opry membership, joining Country Music Hall of Fame members DeFord Bailey and Charley Pride.

Darius Rucker (photo: Dan Steinberg / File / AP)

Rucker has had a multiplatinum, award-winning run since his decision to pursue country music. He performed at the Opry that night before receiving the visit from unannounced guest Brad Paisley, who surprised him with the invitation.

"That day is still one of those days that I remember like it was yesterday," said Rucker, who released his third country album in May. "That was probably the first day I felt I was part of country music."

Bill Cody is an on-air personality for country radio station WSM-AM and an Opry announcer. He recalled the conversation he had with the Opry's general manager leading up to Rucker's invitation.

"Pete Fisher came over to me shortly before the show ... and said, 'Tonight we've got some plans and it's top secret, and here's what's going down: Darius is going to be asked to become the next member of the Opry,'" said Cody, who will also share Opry moments by video during the tours. "And I'm like, oh, wow!"

Other areas and items that can be seen on all three tours include a sampling of 18 dressing rooms that are decorated with a unique theme to honor Opry greats like Minnie Pearl, Porter Wagoner and Jimmy Dickens, as well as Studio A, where "Hee Haw" and other TV shows have been filmed over the years.

--LUCAS L. JOHNSON II,Associated Press

Click the photo above to see a photo gallery of Randy Travis over the years.

Country music stars and fans joined together to urge prayers for Randy Travis on Thursday after he underwent brain surgery following a stroke at a Texas hospital.

Travis remained in critical condition Thursday after surgery to relieve pressure on his brain Wednesday night, publicist Kirt Webster said. The 54-year-old Grammy Award-winning singer had been improving while being treated for heart failure caused by a viral infection when he had the stroke.

The setback occurred hours after doctors said Travis was showing signs of improvement since the start of treatment Sunday for congestive heart failure and the insertion of a pump to help his heart increase blood flow.

Grand Ole Opry star "Little" Jimmy Dickens is set to undergo three weeks of short-term radiation treatments for a "pre-cancerous condition" on his vocal cords, according a release sent by Opry publicists Schmidt Relations on Tuesday.

The release says that Dickens' doctors expect the 92-year-old Country Music Hall of Famer to make a full recovery. Dickens has long been an "Opry" staple but has been absent from the program for much of 2013.

“I can’t begin to express my sincere gratitude for the thoughts and prayers that are being sent my way,” Dickens said in the release. “My family and I appreciate the support, and I can’t wait to return home to the stage of the Grand Ole Opry in one of my favorite rhinestone suits someday soon.”

The Opry is encouraging Dickens’ friends and fans to send cards and letters to the address below:

Look at singer-songwriter and guitar-slinger Tim Carroll. He went from playing country music’s grandest and most famous stage, at The Grand Ole Opry House, to playing no stage at all, at a tiny Gallatin Road dive called Dino’s.

In one night.

Happily.

“As long as it’s heartfelt, people clapping for you is always a wonderful thing,” said Carroll, who has been clapped for at New York’s Ed Sullivan Theater on David Letterman’s show, at the Cambridge Folk Festival, at punk rock headquarters CBGB’s and on hundreds of occasions at the “Opry.”

“I’ve been singing his songs and trying to learn from him since 1992,” said Todd Snider, who works with Carroll in a collective called Elmo Buzz & The Eastside Bulldogs. “The day I met Tim, he was getting his song cut by John Prine. Is there anything else you’d like to know?”

Pickler kicked off the Tuesday Night Opry in a fitted purple dress and a wide smile with “Stop Cheating on Me,” a song she says is her favorite from her last album “100 Proof.” The crowd held up “10” paddles after she finished, a nod to her “Dancing” days.

“That’s so sweet,” she said. “I wish you all could have been the judges.”

Pickler’s husband songwriter Kyle Jacobs was in the house, as was the other man in her life: dance partner Hough.

Pickler didn’t introduce him from the stage, but he was present — mirror-ball trophy in hand — during a backstage party organized to celebrate their win.

“He’s such a great sport,” Pickler said. “He’s embraced everything but it’s really cool he was able to be here tonight for this special get-together. I didn’t realize it was going to be all of this. I was at a little loss for words. I feel like thank you is an understatement. You can’t win that by yourself.”

During the party, Grand Ole Opry Vice President and General Manager Pete Fisher recalled Pickler’s debut on the “Opry” and how she sat down on the stage’s historic circle to sing her songs that night.